FAQ

FAQ
    n 1: a list of questions that are frequently asked (about a
         given topic) along with their answers
    

FAQ \FAQ\ (f[a^]k), FAQ list \FAQ" list`\ (f[a^]k"l[i^]st`),
FAQlist \FAQ"list\ (f[a^]k"l[i^]st`), pr. n. [acronym from
   Frequently Asked Questions.]
   A list of questions and answers concerning a specific topic,
   such as how to use a particular computer program. Many such
   lists contain answers to the most commonly asked questions
   about that topic, however the questions need not derive from
   actual queries. Such lists are often maintained in electronic
   form and made available on the World Wide Web. [acronym]
   [PJC]
    

FAQ
 /F.A.Q/, /fak/, n.

   [Usenet]

   1. A Frequently Asked Question.

   2. A compendium of accumulated lore, posted periodically to
   high-volume newsgroups in an attempt to forestall such questions. Some
   people prefer the term `FAQ list' or `FAQL' /fa'kl/, reserving `FAQ'
   for sense 1.

   This lexicon itself serves as a good example of a collection of one
   kind of lore, although it is far too big for a regular FAQ posting.
   Examples: "What is the proper type of NULL?" and "What's that funny
   name for the # character?" are both Frequently Asked Questions.
   Several FAQs refer readers to the Jargon File.
    

frequently asked question
FAQ
FAQL
FAQ list

   <convention> (FAQ, or rarely FAQL, FAQ list) A document
   provided for many {Usenet} {newsgroups} (and, more recently,
   {World-Wide Web} services) which attempts to answer questions
   which new readers often ask.  These are maintained by
   volunteers and posted regularly to the newsgroup.  You should
   always consult the FAQ list for a group before posting to it
   in case your question or point is common knowledge.

   The collection of all FAQ lists is one of the most precious
   and remarkable resources on the {Internet}.  It contains a
   huge wealth of up-to-date expert knowledge on many subjects of
   common interest.  Accuracy of the information is greatly
   assisted by its frequent exposure to criticism by an
   interested, and occasionally well-informed, audience (the
   readers of the relevant newsgroup).

   The main {FTP archive} for FAQs is on a computer called {RTFM}
   at MIT, where they can be accessed either by group
   (ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.answers/) or by
   hierarchy (ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/).
   There is another archive at Imperial College
   (ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/), London, UK and a
   World-Wide Web archive in Ohio
   (http://cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/top.html),
   USA.

   The FAQs are also posted to {Usenet} newsgroups:
   news:comp.answers, news:news.answers and
   news:alt.answers.

   (1997-12-08)
    

FAQ
       Frequently Asked Questions (slang, Usenet)